Safety gas-supply-pipe attachment.



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P. W. KROHN. v SAFETY GAS SUPPLY PIPE ATTAGHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1903 no MODEL,

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UNITED STATES Patented September 29, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

' SAFETY GAS-SUPPLY-PIPE ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.'740,145, dated September 29, 1903.

V Application filed July 15, 1903. Serial No. 165.682. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, FREDERICK W. KROHN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Safety Gas-Supply-Pipe Attachments; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in means for preventing gas escaping from the jet in case the gas is turned off at the meter or its fiow through the mains otherwise interrupted while the jet-cock is still open and then turned on again before the jet-cock has been closed. v r

The object of my inventionis to provide a safety device of simple construction which is adapted to be interposed in the supplypipe between the meter and the gas-jet whereby the flow of gas through the pipe will be controlled by the gas-pressure.

It consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is asection taken on line 2/ y e- A represents a metal base-plate having a central threaded nipple 2 adapted to be screwed on over the end of agas-pipe and provided with an annular channel on its upper surface, in which an annular double-walled liquid-containing cup 3, uninclosed at the top and having a central opening, is adapted to be seated and secured by cement or other suitable means. This cup is preferably of glass or porcelain, since it is designed to contain mercury to form a seal for the bell 4, which works up and down in the space between the onter and inner walls of the cup. The hell 4 is likewise of glass or similar indestructible material and is centrally perforated to admit the stem 5. It is adapted to be secured rigidly on the stem by means of the upper and lower set-nuts 6 6', screwing on the stem and adj ustable thereon to regulate the dip of the bell in the mercury-bath relative to the valve 7 and its seat 8.

The plate A and cup 3 form, in fact, a casing which with the bell incloses the gaschamber 9, into which gas is admitted through valve 7-from service-pipe 10 and discharged at 11 into the jet-pipe 12. Any moisture condensing in the apparatus is prevented from entering the jet-pipe by reason of the prolongation of the outlet 11 within chamber 9. The valve is of the ordinary plug type and is secured rigid to the stem. seat screws into the plate A in line with the supply-pipe and carries a valve-stem guide 13, by which the bell is steadied in its rise and fall and the valve made to seat true.

The separable character of the several parts allows the apparatus to be quickly assembled or taken apart for cleaning or other purposes.

The base-plate A is of metal for the purpose of affording necessary strength and providing suitable connections with the fixture.

14: is a metal guide extending diametrally across the cup above the limit of upward movement of the bell and having its ends passing down outside the cup and secured to the metal base-plate, as at 15. This guide is perforated to receive the stem 5 and supports the valve and bell actuating mechanism. This latter comprises alever-plate 16,fulcrumed on a standard 17, rigid with guide 14: and connected with the end of valve-stem 5 by a link 18. A weight-arm 19 is pivoted to plate 16 on the side adjacent to the link, and the contiguous edges of the plate and lever around the pivot are corrugated, as shown at 20,and the parts are adapted to be locked'securely together at any angle relative to each other by means of the set-screw 21. Plate 16 has a rearwardprojection 22, adapted as a; handle to'op- 'erate the device in settling it.

In operation handle 22 is depressed to lift arm 19 and bell-1and open valve 7, whereupon the gas may pass from pipe 10 into the bell, thence to be consumed at the gas-jets as needed, the bell being held up so long as the gaspressure in the apparatus remains sufficient. Handle 22 is depressed to its lowest point, and then lever 19 or the weight upon it is adjusted relative to the fulcrum of plate 16, so that while the weight and lever mechanism will never be at dead-center a very few ounces pressure of gas will suffice to hold up the bell and keep the valve open. The moment, however, the gas-pressure is cut off or falls abnor- The hollow valve-.

mally the bell will drop by gravity, the weight on arm 19 being su fficient when valve 7 is once closed to prevent its being reopened except by the operator.

This device is preferablyinterposed in the supply-pipe between the meter and the gasjet, whereby any accidental escape of gas at the jet due to disturbances in the mains-such as the accumulation of water in the pipes, causing a temporary interruption in the flow of gas, or from the'heedless turning off and on of the gas at the meter-will be guarded against.

This device may be of any suitable size or desired form of ornamentation. Asingleone disposed in the main supply-pipe from the meter may do for an entire building, or individual ones maybe provided relative to each gasjet it is desired to protect.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the supply-pipe of a gas-jet, of an apparatus interposed in the pipe between the jet and the meter, said apparatus com prising a casing adapted to contain a liquid seal, a bell telescoping with said casing, a valve operated by the movements of the bell to control the flow of gas through the apparatus, and a pivoted counterbalance connected with the valve and adapted to move about its pivot to exert a variable pressure on the bell to close said valve.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with inlet and outlet pipes, of a casing, a bell operating in said casing, a

pivoted counterbalance and connections be tween the same and the bell, a valve normally seating by gravity in one of said pipes and actuated by the rise and fall of the bell, said counterbalance movable about its pivotal center to exert a variable pressure on the bell to close the valve.

3. In a device of the character described,

the combination with inlet and outlet pipes,

of a casing, a bell movable in said casing, a valve seating in one of said pipes .and operable by the movements of the bell, and a counterbalance mechanism connected to the bell and exerting a variable pressure upon the latter as said mechanism moves from one position to another, to close the valve.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with inlet and outlet pipes, of a casing, a bell movable in said casing, a

valve rigid with the bell and normally seating in one of said pipes, a valve-stem extending above said valve and upper and lower guides for the stem, and a pivoted counterbalanced member connected to the bell and adapted to move about its pivot to exert a variable pressure on the bell to close the valve.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of'a casing having outer and inner separated walls inclosing an annular liquid-containing space, a bell operable in said space, an inlet-pipe entering the bot-tom of the case and opening into the bell-chamber, a valve-seat on the end of said pipe, a valve rigid with the bell and normally supported onsaid seat, guide means for retaining the alinement of said valve relative to its seat, and said bell-chamber having an outlet.

6.- In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing with inlet and outlet openings, a telescoping bell, a valve carried by the bell and normally seating bygravity in the inlet-opening, an upwardlyextended part rigid with the bell, a pivoted weight-arm, and connections between said rigid part and said arm, said arm in its movements about its pivot exerting a variable pressure on the bell to close the valve.

7. In a device of the character described the combination of a casing with inlet and outlet openings, a bell telescoping with said casing, a seal therefor, a valve rigid with the bell and normally seating in one of said openings, a valve-stem projecting exterior to the bell, guides therefor, a lever, pivotal connections between said lever and stem, and an adj ustable weight-arm on said plate.

8. In a device of the character described,.

the combination of. a casing comprising a metal base-plate attachable to a service-pipe, an outletin saidbase-plate, the latter having an annular flange or recess on its upper surface, an annular cup seating in said recess, a bell telescoping with said cup, a valve normally seating in the entry from the servicepipe and controllable by the movement of the bell and counterweight mechanism adapted to exert a pressure on the bell varying with the height of the bell.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FREDERICK W. KROHN. Witnesses:

HENRY P. TRICOU, EDW. W. GUNTHER. 

